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33 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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political ideology
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o Coherent and consistent set of beliefs about who ought to rule, what principles rulers ought to obey, and what policies rulers ought to pursue
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o Old definition of liberalism
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• You want freedom from the government
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o Old definition of conservatism
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• you want a powerful govmt, church, and aristocracy
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o New definition of liberalism
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• FDR made liberal mean that the govmt will be active in people’s lives (social welfare, economic programs etc)
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o New definition of conservatism
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• Freedom from the government
• Small government/minimized government |
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o Liberals
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• Liberal on social and economic matters
• Want govmt to reduce economic inequality, regulate business, tax the rich, allow abortions, protect the rights of the accused, broad freedom of speech and press • Young college students, Jewish or non religious |
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o Conservatives
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• Conservative on economic and social matters
• Want govmt to cut back on welfare, laissez faire economy, lower taxes, persecute criminals, curb antisocial conduct • Older average citizens, higher income, white, live in Midwest |
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o Libertarians
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• Conservative on economics and liberal on social matters
• Small weak govmt • Young average citizen, college educated, white, higher income, live in west |
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o Populists
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• Liberal on economic matters and conservative on social matters
• Want govmt to reduce economic inequality and control business, regulate personal conduct, permit prayer in school • Older, poorly educated, low income, religious female in south or Midwest |
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o Definition of political elites
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people who have a disproportionate amount of some valued resource like power, money, and education
o Government officials are political elites |
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Role of political elites
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o Political elites are activists→ people who run/hold office, campaign, lead social/political movements
o Elites influence public opinion • Raise and frame political issues- they shape the political agenda • Elites state the norms by which issues should be settled→ determine the range of acceptable and unacceptable policy options • Ex: racism is wrong • Help define problems • Affect how the public sees some issues |
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o Family
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• Most people identify with their parents’ political party
• 91% of young people and 60% of adults identify with their parents’ political party • People with strong political beliefs tend to come from families with strong political beliefs |
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o Religion
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• Catholics are more liberal on economics than protestants
• Jewish people are more liberal in general than everybody else • Jews emphasize social justice (liberal) • Protestants emphasize personal salvation (conservative) • Religious differences make political differences |
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o Gender
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• Women tend to be democrat and men tend to be conservative republicans
• Women tend to vote for female candidates |
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o Education
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• Attending college tends to make people more liberal
• Students at prestigious and selective colleges are the most liberal • The longer students stay in college the more liberal they are • Reasons why college students tend to be liberal • The type of person that goes to college is liberal even w/o college • College exposes people to more info about politics • College teachers liberalism • College students tend to retain their liberal beliefs for the rest of their lives |
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the big problem
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o The majority of US citizens do not vote
o Main reasons • Lack of interest • Physically cannot vote (sick, disabled, religious beliefs, absent from their voting state) • Belief that voting will not make a difference • People do not care about politics • People distrust politics/politicians |
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characteristics of voters
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• High levels of income
• Educated • Good job • Well integrated into community life • Long time residents • Strong political ideology |
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characteristics of non voters
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• Young
• Unmarried • Unskilled • Live in rural areas or in the south • Men are less likely to vote than women |
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political parties
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group of people who seek to control the government through winning elections and holding office
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o Functions of political parties
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• Nominating candidates
• Political parties designate the candidates that voters have to choose from • Informing/activating supporters • Try to inform and inspire voters with their beliefs • Try to gain support for their party/candidates • Bonding agent function • Political parties act as bonding agents to ensure the good performance of its candidates/officeholders • Make deals with other political parties • Governing • Government in the US is government by party • Congress and state legislatures are organized on party lines • Parties shape government conduct • Acting as watchdog • Parties watch over the public’s business • Criticize the policies and behaviors of the party in power to try to get their party in power • The party in power is the party in control of the executive branch |
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• Background on two party system
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o The US government originated with a two party system (federalist and anti federalists)
o Americans favor a two party system b/c it’s traditional o The framers of the constitution originally perceived political parties as factions- political parties were agents of disunity and tyranny |
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o Single member districts
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• Contests in which only one candidate is elected to each office
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o Plurality
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• A large amount of something
• Candidates must win the plurality of the vote in order to win |
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• How the electoral system in the US promotes a two-party system (know the vocab)
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o The electoral system makes it harder for smaller political minority parties to get listed on the ballot
o It’s hard for a small political minority party to gain the majority of the support when competing against the two big political parties |
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o Bipartisan
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• When political parties find common ground and work together
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• Why political parties tend toward moderate positions
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o In order to win, political parties must gain the support of the majority. Since the majority of the population is moderate the political parties must be moderate too
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o Democrats
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• Social welfare
• Govmt regulation • Minority protection |
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o Republicans
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• Private market
• Laissez faire economy • Less govmt regulation • No welfare |
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• Multi-party systems (definition, advantages, disadvantages)
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a system with several major and minor parties
o Advantages • Provides a wider range/representation of the electorate • More responsive to the will of the people • More meaningful choice for voters o Disadvantages • Power to govern must be shared with a coalition b/c it’s hard for one party to gain most of the control • Many parties must rule at once so it’s not easy for them all to get along |
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• One-party systems – connection in the US
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o Some states and many local govmts have govmts that function like one party systems
o In about 1/3 of the states, one political party consistently dominates |
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• Party membership: Importance, characteristics, influences
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o Democrats→ African americans, catholics/jews, union members, poor/middle class
o Republicans→ white, male, protestant, businessmen, rich o Factors that influence party membership • Family values • Education • Major events • Economic status • Job • age |
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o 4 types of minor political parties
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• Ideological parties
• Based on a particular set of beliefs • Ex: communist, socialist, libertarian • Single Issue parties • Focus on one public policy/issue • Ex: Free soil party, Green party, Right to life party, Marijuana reform party of NY state • Economic Protest parties • Arise during times of economic problems and demand change • Focus on perceived enemies • Ex: Occupy wall street (but it’s technically not a political party), Populist party • Splinter parties • Splinter away from major political parties • Often form around a leading personality • Ex: Tea party (but not really a splinter party b/c it’s still part of the republican party), Bull moose party, Progressive party, States’ rights party (Dixiecrats), American Independent party |
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• Importance of minor parties
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• Spoiler role in elections
o They take votes away from other candidates in elections o It’s not likely that minor parties will win but they help majority parties • Critic and Innovator o Clear cut stands on controversial issues o Draw attention to issues the main party is missing o Ex: tea party says republicans are not conservative enough- they aren’t cutting big government enough o If the minor party idea catches hold, the majority party steals it • |
